Dinosaurs are prehistoric creatures which lived 150 million years ago. Dinosaurs are mostly reptiles and this means that they lay eggs and do not give milk to their young. Now, only fossils of these prehistoric creatures can be found. There were different eras in which different dinosaurs lived.
Tyrannosaurus rex
Tyrannosaurus rex is also known as T-rex. The meaning of T-rex is tyrant lizard.
It lived in the late Cretaceous period about 68-66 million years ago. T-rex had a massive skull which was balanced by a muscular neck and a heavy tail. Many people make fun of T-rex's small claws but scientists believe that T-rex's claws are useful.
T rex is 12.3 metres in length and 3.96 metres in height. It weighs about six to eight metric tons. T-rex is still among one of the largest carnivores to walk the earth and is supposed to have the strongest bite force of all terrestrial animals.
It preyed on armored herbivores such as ankylosaurus and triceratops. It is known as an apex predator but some experts believe that it was a scavenger. Many believe that T-rex was both an apex predator and a scavenger.
Spinosaurus
The spinosaurus lived 99 to 93.5
million years ago. It had a crocodile like skull which was excellent for fishing. Its diet was ifish. Its teeth were built for gripping flesh and not tearing flesh. It was the largest terrestrial animal to walk the earth. It was 15 to 16 metres in length and about 6.4 to 7.5 metric tons in weight.
This dinosaur hunted both aquatic and terrestrial prey.
Evidence suggests it was mostly semi - aquatic. It lived both on land and in water.
Allosaurus
Allosaurus means a different lizard. Allosaurus lived in the Jurassic period.
They had a weak bite which was weaker than a lion’s but it can open its mouth
wide because of its flexible neck muscles.
The Allosaurus’s teeth were serrated front and back which means it can tear flesh easily.
It can run fast for short distances but it does not have stamina.
The Allosaurus uses the element of surprise to hunt prey.
H.G Janiru Bathila
Gread 8
Lyceum International School
Ratnapura